Mclellanara in S/H???

[ehuber]

Hi all,

My boyfriend gave me a lovely Mclellanara (Pagan Love Song, "Chocolate Thunder") about a month ago. The plant has been going through some "hard times" and I came across First Ray's website last night and am HOOKED on the idea of trying out semi-hydro for this plant. It is time to repot it anyway as the blooms have faded and there is no new growth yet.

Does anyone know if S/H works well with this plant, or similar plants? I think it is an Oncidium alliance plant. I am kind of a novice at the orchid thing, but definitely want to work to get this guy healthy again.

Any advice you could give me would be great!!!!

Emily

[Ray]

Emily,

A mclellanara is an intergeneric hybrid between brassia, odontoglossum, and oncidium. It will absolutely love semi-hydroponics.

I would like to correct one thing though: do not repot it until it breaks a new growth and it starts growing roots. In the mean time, do what you can to keep it in elevated humidity.

Oh yeah.... "Lovesong" is all one word in that hybrid.

[ehuber]

Thanks so much, Ray! I actually just ordered the S/H starter kit from your website last night! I am very excited to get it. I will try it out on my Pagan Lovesong and a Zygo baby that is definitely in need of a higher humidity.

Okay....there are some new developments in the Pagan Lovesong's life. The hard times it has gone through involve some mold growing around the vents in the plastic pot and a serious algae problem om the top of the potting material. I took it out of the pot last night and lo and behold: completely decomposed potting material and mostly rotted roots. No wonder it has not started sprouting new growth yet! I trimmed off the roots and have put it bare root in a well ventilated pot, and am dousing it in distilled room temp water each day. So, it seems like maybe this is not the best time to get it set up in S/H? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do to try to save this guy? The foliage is nice and healthy, but the pseudobulbs are a little wrinkled.

[Ray]

I would use a modified "sphag-n-bag" technique with it:

Soak the entire plant for several hours in tepid water containing about a teaspoon per gallon of K-L-N.

Prepare the medium and pot it up in the S/H pot per the instructions, and water it well with the water + K-L-N.

Then, put the plant, pot and all, into a clear plastic bag, and close it up to simulate a mini-"greenhouse". Keep it warm and shady, and it will likely put down roots in a short while, and will take off. The 100% RH will keep the plant from desiccating while awaiting root growth, and you probably won't need to water at all until it's ready to come out.

[mojomick]

Ray, A question about using the plastic bags to increase the humidity. I have done this several times and each time, the whole plant gets mouldy. Any suggestions. Mojo

[Ray]

I have only seen that when I have not kept them warm enough....